Mississippi Fortress

About this board game

Mississippi Fortress is a two-player strategic simulation of General Ulysses S. Grant’s campaign from 29 April through 4 July 1863, with approximately 180 minutes of play. Released in 1990, it recreates the Union campaign that culminated in the capture of Vicksburg and the splitting of the Confederacy.

The Union forces are powerful but initially weaker than the combined Confederate strength, while still being required to take the offensive. The two Confederate armies begin widely separated, creating an opportunity for the Union player—but they can form a decisive mass if they manage to link up.

The map covers the central Mississippi theater of operations, stretching from Bruinsburg to Jackson. It is divided into areas, each representing a fourteen-mile square of terrain and regulating movement and combat. The campaign scenarios use two-day turns and cover the period from 29 April through 4 July 1863.

Two campaign game scenarios portray the wider operation, while a smaller scenario focuses on the key maneuvering and combat at Champion Hill. Special rules add distinctive campaign challenges, including weather, Union gunboats, Confederate shore batteries, and the siege of Vicksburg.

• 17-inch by 22-inch full-color game map
• 240 die-cut game counters
• Standard rules book and exclusive rules book
• Battle board, game card, and two army display sheets
• One die

With its area-based movement and combat system, scenario variety, and opposing strategic pressures, Mississippi Fortress presents a focused two-player contest over the Mississippi campaign. Players must manage the Union offensive while responding to the Confederate armies’ potential to combine their strength.